My Life I Dedicate to Thee (Valentine)
c. 1840
Medium
Lithograph with hand-coloring on cut and embossed ivory wove paper (lace)
Dimensions
Folded sheet: 14.3 × 9.4 cm (5 11/16 × 3 3/4 in.)
Classification
valentine
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
75813
Art Historical Context
This charming valentine, titled *My Life I Dedicate to Thee*, was created around 1840 by British artist George Meek. Produced as a folded sheet measuring just over five inches tall, it exemplifies the intimate, sentimental tokens exchanged during the early Victorian period. Valentines like this one allowed individuals to express romantic devotion through delicate imagery and verse, reflecting the era’s growing emphasis on personal emotion and courtship rituals. The artwork’s medium highlights both innovation and craftsmanship. Printed via lithography—a relatively new technique that enabled wi...